Robinson Jeffers

Here you will find the Poem The Bird With The Dark Plumes of poet Robinson Jeffers

The Bird With The Dark Plumes

The bird with the dark plumes in my blood,
That never for one moment however I patched my truces
Consented to make peace with the people,
It is pitiful now to watch her pleasure In a breath of 
 tempest
Breaking the sad promise of spring.
Are these that morose hawk's wings, vaulting, a mere 
 mad swallow's,
The snow-shed peak, the violent precipice?
Poor outlaw that would not value their praise do you 
 prize their blame?
"Their liking" she said "was a long creance,
But let them be kind enough to hate me that opens the 
 sky."
It is almost as foolish my poor falcon
To want hatred as to want love; and harder to win.



Submitted by Holt